Sometimes it is tempting to feel sorry for the AFL. It's so darned progressive, open-minded and ''evidence-based''. The league is the embodiment of that bewildering but charming notion that gives this city its character: whatever the problem - racism, sexism, alcohol abuse, illicit drugs - we will argue it out through the prism of a ball game between teams of 22 young men. Is it OK to sleep with a mate's wife? Are drugs primarily a legal or a medical issue? Is it moral for a man to have sex with a drunken woman who seemed to be interested earlier? We wrestle with all of this, and then demand the AFL ''do something''.

There is now a campaign for the AFL to ''do something'' about homophobia. There are claims that it is not as serious about this issue as others, and pressure for a gay pride round this season. Former premier Jeff Kennett, now chairman of depression initiative beyondblue, points out the links between homosexual slurs and depression among young gay people. Naturally, he and others want the AFL to lead, with a gay pride match mooted between Kennett's Hawthorn and Sydney. Gay groups want a specific AFL sexual diversity program, a multimillion-dollar grassroots initiative to match its campaigns on racism and respect for women.

It is hard to argue against because the AFL, unlike other sporting codes, takes itself so seriously as a champion of progressive causes. Chief executive Andrew Demetriou may have said in frustration last year that ''next we'll be sorting out the pygmies in Tanzania'', but nobody is demanding Cricket Australia run a Rainbow Test match, or Netball Australia hold a ''men's round'' because they haven't made social causes central to their purpose.

So the AFL squirms, irritated that it's so progressive, yet is still criticised for not being progressive enough. In 2009, it expanded its race and religious vilification policies to prohibit vilification for sexual preference. St Kilda's Stephen Milne was fined for calling a player a ''f---ing poofter'', although critics were outraged that he escaped suspension. The AFL screened ''No to Homophobia'' ads during the preliminary finals last year. At the invitation of the players' association, gay country footballer Jason Ball addressed first-year players last month. And right now, clubs are holding compulsory sessions on policies including vilification.

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Still it gets a kicking. ''Despite the lip service, diversity and inclusion is not regarded as [AFL] core business,'' wrote gay activist Rob Mitchell recently.

The AFL thinks the criticism is unfair and counterproductive, yet wants to do more, and is now canvassing clubs on whether they want a gay pride match or round and a full-blown anti-homophobia campaign separate from its ''social inclusion'' policy that incorporates homophobia alongside other forms of discrimination. Let's hope they resist. Not because homophobia isn't a good cause, but because we're all caused out and perhaps we can handle this one without the AFL holding our collective hand. And because there's something false about football players being compelled to re-educate us all about how to behave.

The AFL is in a bind of its own making. If there's an indigenous round, and a women's round, and a multicultural round, why not a gay pride round? It argues that the indigenous round celebrates the remarkable contribution of Aboriginal people to the game - 11 per cent of senior players are indigenous - and was in response to a clear problem of racial abuse from players and fans. The women's round highlights a family-friendly game. It's patronising to women, in my curmudgeonly view, but it was also in response to routine allegations of sexual misbehaviour.

Gay groups say, likewise, that the game has a major problem with homophobia and cite as proof the fact that no senior player is ''out''. It's a perverse argument. It's not as though anyone wants players to stay in the closet. Just the opposite; there's almost an unseemly desperation for someone to please come out so we can all demonstrate our tolerance. In this atmosphere, why would anyone come out, and why should they?

This is 2013. Homophobia exists in pockets of our community, and certainly at football grounds, as does prejudice against the disabled, the mentally ill, indeed, against all minority groups. But it is an area where we have made real strides - without the leadership of the AFL. Legal discrimination has been swept away and there is strong public support for gay marriage, particularly among the young. There are openly gay cabinet ministers, business leaders, media personalities, Hollywood actors and, yes, even sport stars.

It's far from perfect, but Demetriou was rightly flummoxed last year by finger-wagging questions that somehow suggested we were back in 1975. ''If and when a person decides to come out publicly and declare their sexuality, I think there will be an absolute minimum of fuss about this . . . We have all moved on. I don't understand the huge issue about what controversy this is going to cause.''

As for the players, can we just let them be and not insist they hold and promote the ''right'' views beyond what is already required of them? Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley in a radio interview last year worried about the ''facade'' of political correctness in the game, in this case, towards women. When policies were forced on them, ''you end up breeding a whole generation of blokes who feel like that they have to act a certain way'' whether they believe it or not. That might look good, but it's not real progress, on the ground, or off it.

Gay Alcorn is a former editor of The Sunday Age and a regular columnist. Twitter: @Gay_Alcorn.

24 comments

Clearly the words of someone who has never experienced the full force of a largely normalised homophobia, be this in its verbal or physical forms, and each of which is pernicious and harmful in its own way. That you, Gay, so off-handedly dismiss this as an issue significance by claiming that there are only 'homophobia exists in pockets of our community', while apologising for the poor AFL blokes who might be expected to act as ethical human beings, says as much.

The point of organisations like the AFL tackling homophobia head on and publicly is that the sports (and cultures) over which they preside are integral to the promotion of a pervasive, fundamentally aggressive form of masculinity, which is the basis of homophobia and, worse, homophobic violence.

Given that many young people look up to their sporting heroes, I can't see how an argument that claims that some forms of discrimination are more worthy causes than others stacks up. For instance, violence related to racism is, relatively speaking, far less pronounced than violence related to homophobia (Cronulla riots aside, of course). We should also consider that same-sex attracted youth lead the league tables in youth suicide.

Why, then, shouldn't it be incumbent upon public figures such as elite AFL players to take the lead on these issues, particularly since cultural change always starts at the top?

Commenter

Gay Tristan

Location

Sydney

Date and time

February 06, 2013, 9:40AM

But Gay Tristan, why are you and your cohorts so rabidly focused on the AFL when there are so many other sports to choose from? Why not start with smaller sports such as field hockey, or netball, or basketball, or squash for that matter? Why not build a groundswell of activity and encourage (rather than outright demand) action in all the other sports, instead of stamping your feet and demanding politically correct action from every individual involved with AFL, from still wet behind the ears boys through to elderly men and women.I agree totally with the article writer and add that your aggressive approach to the AFL risks disenfranchising any goodwill and/or support from both within the organisation, and from the general public. And you guys have to stop the perpetual smearing of everyone who disagrees with you as being homophobic. If you shut down debate with that approach, you will do more harm than good.

Commenter

TEd

Date and time

February 06, 2013, 11:45AM

TEd,

First of all, the article was about the AFL and the part it should/shouldn't play. I'd just as soon see all sports with a significant public presence acting on this, as they have on other forms of discrimination.

Let me assure you, though, that the countless lives, mine included, that have been profoundly affected by a culture of homophobia, which the aggressive forms of contact sport such as aussie rules, league, and union ultimately promote, do not see this as a trivial matter of political correctness, but rather one related to a deep and abiding respect that should be accorded to all people regardless of what makes us different. At the same time, there are many more men who've experienced the sharp end of the homophobic stick than just me and my big gay cohorts...

As for calling you a homophobe, I think you do a pretty good job of that yourself: the reflexive 'don't smear me with the homophobe brush' speaks more to your own cognitive dissonance about this, as does your suggestion that somehow 'you guys' (meaning we gays) have to prove something (to you and others like you) in order to be accorded the respect you yourself take for granted.

I understand that nobody likes to be called a bigot, but that doesn't mean it is any less true that the things people say and the way they act aren't bigoted. That is the imperceptibility of homophobia, racism, sexism, etc. - they appear as natural such that 'you and your cohorts' fail to recognise the deeply prejudiced and discriminatory foundations upon which such seemingly ordinary views stand. This is precisely the reason why highly visible organisations like, but not exclusively, the AFL should be engaged in this kind of work.

Tristan

Commenter

Gay Tristan

Date and time

February 06, 2013, 12:41PM

Tristan, you make some emotive points, many of which I agree with - particularly that of violence. I would have to question you on why you think an AFL player should bare the burden of redicule, discrimination and threats of violence to him and his family and possibly even team mates? Given Ted is not alone in his PC bigotry and fears that his beloved sport will be over run by efeminate men, one has to come from a position of strategy, logic and reason. Unfortuntely logic and reason are in short supply currently.

Until gay citizens enjoy the same rights and hetro citizens, then no matter how many players out themselves, the core of the issue will never be dealt with... ie. legislated discrimination.

Start with you local fedral minister.

Commenter

NWO

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

February 06, 2013, 1:18PM

Gay Tristan and NWO, your shrill and quaintly ridiculous responses to my perfectly reasoned and neutral comment show that you have no idea about convincing people of your point of view, and that you will inevitably start to chisel away at the overwhelming goodwill that exists currently within the AFL community.And what's worse, you've instantly made assumptions about my sexuality, and then used this as a club against me. It speaks volumes about your bitterness towards those who may dare to differ in opinion.Pretty ugly, and entirely foolish, chaps,

Commenter

Ted

Date and time

February 06, 2013, 1:53PM

I make no assumptions Ted, your language used in reply is self evident. Words like cohorts & shrill give your underlying attitude away. You then use the tired old tactic of playing the victim to remove any need for you to repsond with anything but vitriol. Talk about UGLY!

Herein lies the real issue. Why do gay Australians have to convince non gay Australians of the fact they are being denied basic human rights? If using the biggest sport in the nation helps get this message to more people, then all the better. Human rights are not dished out on the basis of popularity or acceptance, they apply to all people of all persuasions.

Commenter

NWO

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

February 06, 2013, 2:16PM

Wow! Someone at the The Age has actually contemplated the possibility that there may actually not be any AFL footballers who participate in homosexual behaviour...

But of course, we all know that the only reason that anyone in the media wants there to be someone who does is to sell a pile of papers.

But back to the original point, as there are between 1.2 and 1.8% of society that participate in homosexual behaviour (source LaTrobe Uni), it doesn't necessarily follow that there will be anyone to 'fit the bill'

I'll be surprised if there is anyone, simply because the culture of AFL footy is so much about the sacrifice for the team and not the individual (which is why the mighty Swans beat the Hawks I might add) and every homosexual I've dealt with in recent years is all about 'notice me, notice me, please notice me'...

Commenter

Someone's finally talking sense!

Location

St. Kilda

Date and time

February 06, 2013, 9:58AM

the flaw in your point, are right there at the end. You have managed to stereotype and offend whilst I can only assume, you had no intentions to do so. I am an openly gay man, who is a mad AFL fan. I cringe when I see glitter and tight shorts as the symbols for homosexuality because it couldnt be further away from who I am. However, I must deal with these stereotypes within the soceity we live in. Statisically, 1 in 10 is a bogan uneducated ignorant fool. Can we not use the AFL who has the power to educate the ignorant?Sadly it is the small few who ruin things for everyone. AFL - ROUND OF DIVERSITY can and will cover a lot of areas that need further education.Good on the AFL for being aware of the problems and the part that they can play.

Commenter

sirocheable

Date and time

February 06, 2013, 10:24AM

Tell me, do you have a degree in psychology? Your statement perfectly highlights the bigotry and hate that many in society have for homosexual Australian citizens. If it makes you feel better to think there are no gay AFL footballers, please be my guest to continue that delusion. Using the law of averages, given approx 800 AFL players would suggest at least 8 gay players in the league, based on 1% of society being gay....or at least admitting to it.

Commenter

NWO

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

February 06, 2013, 1:28PM

Just play football. I'm not against gay persons, but when I buy a ticket to the football (which I do often) I am not buying a ticket for the mardi gras, I'm buying a ticket to watch my team play football. Please stop trying to hijack everything.

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